Caladium plant named ‘JPD OF14-457’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘JPD OF14-457’, characterized by its compact, intermediate height and somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; fancy-type leaves that are dark green in color with dark red-colored centers and venation; and petioles that are tan in color flushed with reddish purple.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RD OF14-457’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RD OF14-457’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2013 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum ‘BRZ Rd Fcy 07’, a non-patented proprietary cultivar typically used for breeding purposes, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium X hortulanum ‘RD 153-20’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,944, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Avon Park, Fla. in September, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RD OF14-457’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RD OF14-457’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, intermediate in height and somewhat mounding plant         habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Fancy-type leaves that are dark green in color with dark         red-colored centers and venation.     -   4. Petioles that are tan in color flushed with reddish purple.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘BRZ Rd Fcy 07’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are more compact and mounded than         and not as tall and upright as plants of ‘BRZ Rd Fcy 07’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are more rugose than         leaves of plants of ‘BRZ Rd Fcy 07’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘BRZ Rd Fcy 07’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of the new Caladium are dark green in color with         dark red-colored centers and venation whereas leaves of ‘BRZ Rd         Fcy 07’ are reddish bronze in color with red-colored centers and         venation.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘BRZ Rd Fcy 07’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are tan in         color flushed with reddish purple whereas leaf petioles of ‘BRZ         Rd Fcy 07’ are close to black in color.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘JPD 153-20’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are intermediate in height whereas         plants of ‘ND 153-20’ are short to intermediate in height.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘JPD         153-20’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are more rugose than         leaves of plants of ‘JPD 153-20’.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘JPD 153-20’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of the new Caladium are dark green in color with         dark red-colored centers and venation whereas leaves of ‘JPD         153-20’ are bright red in color with dark green-colored margins.     -   5. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘JPD 153-20’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are tan in         color flushed with reddish purple whereas leaf petioles of ‘JPD         153-20’ are deep red in color.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘John Peed’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘John Peed’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than and more mounding         than plants of ‘John Peed’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are more rugose than         leaves of plants of ‘John Peed’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘John Peed’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of the new Caladium are dark green in color with         dark red-colored centers and venation whereas leaves of ‘John         Peed’ have red-colored centers with olive green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Frieda Hemple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Frieda Hemple’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Frieda Hemple’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of the new Caladium are dark green in color with         dark red-colored centers and venation whereas leaves of ‘Frieda         Hemple’ are medium green in color with bright red-colored         centers and venation.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are more rugose than         leaves of plants of ‘Frieda Hemple’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Frieda Hemple’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are tan in         color flushed with reddish purple whereas leaf petioles of         ‘Frieda Hemple’ are close to black in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 6) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘JPD OF14-457’ in a container and grown in a shade house (tuber de-eyed).

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 6) is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘BRZ Rd Fcy 07’ (left), ‘JPD OF14-457’ (center) and the male parent, ‘JPD 153-20’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3 of 6) is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘John Peed’ (left), ‘JPD OF14-457’ (center) and ‘Frieda Hemple’ (right).

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 4 of 6) is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘JPD OF14-457’ grown in containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 5 of 6) is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘JPD OF14-457’ grown in an open production field.

The photograph on the fifth sheet (FIG. 6 of 6) is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘JPD OF14-457’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shade house were seven weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were 28 weeks old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘JPD OF14-457’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘BRZ Rd Fcy             07’, not patented, proprietary cultivar typically used for             breeding.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘JPD 153-20’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,944. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             mostly round or ovate in shape. Height: About 4.2 cm.             Diameter: About 8.3 cm to 10.6 cm. Segment height: About             2.7 cm. Segment diameter: About 3.1 cm. Axillary bud shape:             Roughly triangular. Axillary bud size: About 4 mm by 6 mm.             Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Periderm,             freshly-harvested: Close to 177B to 177C and N199C.             Periderm, dried: Close to 200A. Epidermis: Initially, close             to 173D becoming closer to 161C to 161D with development.             Cortical tissue: Close to 2D and 4D. Axillary buds: Close to             174D and 179D. Root description: Thick, fleshy contractile             roots with few lateral branches; color, close to NN155D.             Rooting habit: Dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, intermediate in height and             somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance;             moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate;             potted plants finish in saleable form in about six to seven             weeks after planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise             from one or more growing points on tubers; leaf petioles             initially upright and leaning outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade             house-grown potted plants.—About 24 cm to 34 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted             plants.—About 36 cm to 42 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About four to seven develop per #1             tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About four to eight develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About             4.5 cm to 5 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Linear to             wedge-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the stem. Color:             Outer surface: Close to 156C to 156D with stippling, streaks             and tessellations, close to N199A to N199B and 199A; color             becoming closer to N199B and 199A with development. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.         -   Length, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 13.5 cm to             18.5 cm.         -   Width, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 11.2 cm to 13             cm; when flattened, about 11.5 cm to 14 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate, roughly cordate.         -   Apex.—Acute, cuspidate to obtuse.         -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate, cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire with broad undulations.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Rugose, glabrous;             initially glossy becoming matte with development.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Rugose, glabrous;             slightly glaucous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shade house-grown potted plants.—Developing and fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Background color: Close to             137A and NN137A. Towards the margins: Close to 137A and             NN137A. Leaf edge: Narrow, close to 183A, 187A and 187B.             Basal notch: Close to 187A. Leaf attachment point: Close to             187A. Midvein: Close to 53A and 53B. Lateral venation: Close             to 53A tinged with close to N186D. Interveinal areas and             areas surrounding venation: Close to 53A, lighter than 53A             and close to 53A tinged with close to 183B. Developing and             fully developed leaves, lower surface: Background color:             Close to 191A. Towards the margins: Close to 191A. Leaf             edge: Close to 183A and 187A to 187B. Basal notch: Close to             53A. Leaf attachment point: Close to 53A. Midvein: Close to             53A tinged with close to 59B. Lateral venation: Close to 53A             tinged with close to 59B. Interveinal areas: Close to 191A,             157B, 184A and 185B.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning             outwardly with development; flexible. Length, shade             house-grown potted plants: About 21.5 cm to 28.2 cm.             Diameter, distally, shade house-grown potted plants: About 4             mm to 5 mm. Diameter, proximally, shade house-grown potted             plants: About 6 mm to 9 mm. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glaucous. Color, shade house-grown potted             plants: When developing and fully developed: Close to N170D             flushed with close to 181C and 177A and with variable and             faint stippling, streaks and tessellations of close to 182B             and 177D; just below the leaf junction, close to 60A tinged             with close to 53B. Wing length, shade house-grown potted             plants: About 5.1 cm to 7 cm. Wing diameter, shade             house-grown potted plants: About 9.5 mm to 11 mm. Texture             and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             dull. Wing color, shade house-grown potted plants: Outer             surface: Close to 156C to 156D with stippling, streaks and             tessellations of close to N199A to N199B and 199A. Inner             surface: Close to N155C and N155B; colors and patterns on             the outer surface are visible on the inner surface. -   Inflorescence description: To date, inflorescence development has     not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above     average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler     zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a     cool dry environment to overwinter for re-planting the following     spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘JPD OF14-457’ as illustrated and described. 